Cranfield Airport one step closer to Air Park

Situated in central Bedfordshire in the UK within the campus of Cranfield University, Cranfield Airport has had outline planning permission granted for a new Air Park.

Formerly known as the College of Aeronautics, Cranfield University specialises in aerospace, engineering, technology and management and plans for the Air Park will help the university realise its goal of developing and maintaining the airport for its research objectives.

“This is an exciting time for Cranfield Airport,” said Rob Abbott, director of aviation operations at Cranfield University. “Together with the installation of the remote control tower, the development of these new facilities will mean Cranfield Airport is one of the UK’s premier private business airports, underlined by its strategic location.”

A crucial step in developing the airport as a state-of-the-art base for private jets, the project will see the airport gain new aircraft hangars and an associated business terminal, as well as new office spaces, a hotel and various upgrade works. Developed over two separate phases, the Air Park is expected to be completed in in 2024 and has the potential to generate more than 600 new jobs in the region.

Explaining that the development project will enhance the economy of both Cranfield and the wider region, Central Bedfordshire Council’s director for regeneration, Jason Longhurst, said: “Cranfield is at the cutting edge of innovation and aerospace research and development, so these are plans that chime with our growing high-performance technologies sector, which has demonstrated significant growth.”